school diary

When we went to vote today in our local old one room school house we received our historical association news letter. Reading it when we got home. There's an excerpt of the teachers diary, it's edited and I'm just going to use fake names to tell you.

1882
Nov 15 had quite an excitement at school. Bill john shot Joe bob.
Nov 16 Mr. Hosher came to the schoolhouse and talked to bill
Nov 17 the constable came today to arrest bill. The doctor came tonight and left me medicine.
Nov 18 bill johns trial came off today.
Nov 21 had a large school. Bill came back to school today.

Thought this was interesting. The other interesting part was this poor teacher writes many times going to get paid, did not receive pay today. Oct 17 went for my money. Due since July.

Jan 4 the students have the scarlet fever scare and all are leaving. The Does have the disease. There's also a case at the store.
Jan 14 the ice house burned last night.
Jan 19 the scarlet fever patients are worse. Jane doe is vary bad.
Jan 23 Jane doe is dead. This is the first case of death in any school where I taught.
There's much more I just thought you would be interested in some.
She also highlighted small school on days when circus was in town or kids were at baseball game, or planting corn, and due to blizzard.
Thanks for reading

The written word is more often than not skipped.
I think it is more important than say, a newspaper clipping.